Zoo Trip

We asked Connor what he would like to do, special, for is birthday.  And, he decided he wanted to go to the zoo.  We all had such a great time.  Both boys were terrific.  The weather was perfect.  I was a little concerned that Blake would put up a fight about being in the stroller most of the time, but as long as we got him out every little while, he was great.  Plus, it doesn't hurt that he LOVES to be outside.  I wish the zoo was a little closer so we could go more often.  Here are a few cute pictures from the day.

Blake didn't know what to think about monkeys flying through the air.

Connor watching the monkeys.

Some strange woman holding Connor up to see the Meerkats.

Connor touching an African Hedgehog

Blake petting the baby goat.

Connor with antlers and big ears.

The snake tunnel

The WONDERFUL play area

Blake inside the hippo mouth

As you can see, the boys had a terrific time.  We ended the day with some popcorn, cotton candy and a coke.  I think all of our hearts smiled today.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY CONNOR!!!

Happy Birthday!!

I can't believe that 5 years ago today this is what Connor looked like.

And then 1 short year later he looked like this at his 1st, 1st birthday party.  This is part of the Baby Einstein caterpillar that Aaron made.

And then a couple of weeks later at his 2nd, 1st birthday party he looked like this eating his pig birthday cake.

And then a week later at the beach he had this 3rd, 1st birthday party.

And then another short year later he had grown even more and looked like this at his 1st, 2nd birthday party.

And of course you can't just have 1 party, right?  So, here is the 2nd, 2nd birthday party, John Deere.

And, here is year 3.  Only one party this year.

He had to have a Dora cake.  Aaron tried to convince him to have Diego, but Connor insisted on Dora.  So, Dora was what he got.  Of course, decorated by Daddy.  (Sorry for not having a better picture but this was the only one I could find here.  The others are safely at the bank!  HA!)

And of course, who could forget birthday number 4?!?!?!?!

In Connor's words "I love that cake!"

And who could forget this year's birthday?

Wow!  Where have these 5 years gone?  I've already been emotional about this birthday at church on Sunday just thinking about him turning 5 and then preschool graduation, well, let's not go there!  I love this little guy so much.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CONNOR!!! 

Soccer Game and Awards and Day at the Playground

Connor had a soccer game yesterday and awards after the game.  Here are a few cute shots from the game.

Blake socializing

Reciting The Lord's Prayer before the game

Connor being goalie

Connor in the action

Hot and sweaty Connor.  He played 3 quarters.

High -5 to Coach Bob

This morning we went to a local church to play on their play ground.  My boys love going there to play.

If you look closely you can see Blake peeking through the wood.

Connor, my little monkey, doing a great job on the monkey bars.

The other moms were telling their kids it was time to go.  I looked around and noticed my kids were hiding.  This is where I found them.

One last slide for the day, together.

What a heart-smiling two days.  Gotta love those boys!!

Little Stinker

What happens when you leave a 19 month old unsupervised for 5 minutes?

THIS....

Yes, this is an entire (almost full) box of wet wipes.

Yes, I am GUILTY!!

Connor typically is a good watcher of Blake and runs to tell me when Blake is doing even the least little thing wrong.  Not this time, though.  Although it was a little frustrating, this was nothing to sweat about.  Again, my kids are happy, my kids are healthy and this mess is okay. 

My Little Graduate

Monday night was Connor's graduation from our church's Mother's Day Out preschool program.  The kids had a little program with songs as they sat around a "camp fire" and tent.  They all did such a great job.  So cute to see Connor between his two friends, Jack and Jaxson.  He confessed last night that he skipped line so that he could sit where he wanted to.  What a mess!

 

Singing This Little Light of Mine

Marching in

Going up to get diploma.  My crazy camera froze twice as he was actually receiving diploma.

Daddy and Mini Me

Can't believe that he is now off to kindergarten.  Only 2 more months before we send him off on the next chapter of his life.  We are so proud of him.  We love you, Connor!!!

Birthday Party

Well, it has come and gone.  Connor's 5th birthday party.  If you have known our family for very long, you know that Aaron is always in charge of the birthday cakes.  Although he has always been very good at it, last year he started making fondant covered birthday cakes.  And just like every other year, the cake turned out wonderful.  Now for the unveiling of the cake.....

We were so proud of Aaron's work.  He actually stuck to the week long schedule so that this cake didn't turn into the wee hours of the morning cake like R2D2 did.  I just can't believe this is Connor's 5th birthday.  We were so glad to have Alex and Susie visiting for the party.  Connor loves his cousins so much and misses getting to see them.  So, when they are around, the three of them have the best time ever.  Here are a couple of pictures from the party.  We decided again this year to just have the party in the backyard and let the kids just play in the water/sandbox, slip-n-slide, water guns and swing set.  Aaron grilled hotdogs.  We all had a great time.

Blakey in his own little world, but having fun!

Opening presents

Blowing out the 5 candle!  Still in disbelief that he is turning 5!!

Getting ready to ride his new bike from  Daddy, Mom and Blakey

We all had so much fun and were exhausted by the end of the day.  Thanks to everyone who came and celebrated with us.

Aaron and His Dreams

If you have known me any amount of time, you probably are aware that my crazy husband has crazy dreams.  He has actually been to the doctor about migraines and the topic of his crazy dreams came up.  Come to find out, when most of us are in REM sleep, our body is paralyzed.  Aaron's body, on the other hand, is not paralyzed.  Therefore he acts out stuff.

I have experienced everything from Aaron pulling the ceiling fan out of the ceiling while it was going (and not even remembering it the next morning) to seeing little people crawling around on our bedroom floor, to falling out of the bed, not knowing it and thinking the big thud that he made as he fell out of the bed was a burglar, to rolling over, staring at me and me asking "What are you doing?"  "Trying to figure out who you are."  "Have you figured it out yet?"  "Yeah, you're that woman I married."  "Do you know my name?"  "Yeah, Jennifer." to pulling the sheet off of the bed in the middle of the night because something is in the sheets.  I mean the list goes on and on FOREVER!!!!  And, might I add...this all started the night we got married!!!  I didn't get warned ahead of time about this.  You can imagine what I was thinking as I dealt with that one. 

Well, the past two nights have been interesting.  We can't find a common denominator of what sets these off.  He can go several weeks with nothing and them BAM! we're hit with several in a row.  Night before last he jumped up on the bed.  I'm so use to this now I usually just respond with "Aaron, you're asleep.  Lay down and go back to sleep NOW!"  I did this and got the response of "I am awake."  I said "No you're not.  Go to sleep."  Then he responded with the funnest "Yes, I am awake.  See, 2+3=5, so there!!!"  GEEZ!!!  Then last night I had gotten woken up by something through Blake's baby monitor.  Sounded like something serious had fallen in our house.  I think it was just the net toy holder in their bathroom.  But, anyways, I got up and checked the entire house trying to figure out what it was.  By then I was wide awake.  I went back to bed and tossed and turned.  Once I was almost asleep I get hit with the sheet and comforter thrown on top of me and Aaron jumping up on the bed.  I yelled at him to stop and the only response I got was "Oh, I thought you were something else."  Of course, in 10 seconds flat he's back asleep and yet I'm still trying to go back to sleep 30 minutes later. 

I really should have taken the advice of many people at the beginning of our marriage and written all of this stuff down.  I've experience some of the funniest things in Aaron's dreams.  Thankfully he doesn't ever try to hurt me.  He has tried to hold me down a couple of times because he thought I was some bad person, but thankfully I've been able to get him to fully wake up during those.  And, yes, apparently my children have inherited this!!  Connor and Blake both talk in their sleep.  And, when Connor has slept with me before, I've caught him talking and looking through the sheets for stuff.  He has the same glazed over eyes that Aaron has when he does the same thing.  At least I'll be able to warn Blake and Connor's wives!  heehee

New Words

Blake's new words

TUCK!! -- Stuck
Wader -- Water
RaRa-- Rabbit
Nack -- Snack
Up pees -- Up Please
Book -- obvious
C-Ya -- obvious

Heavy Heart

For about a little over a year now I've been following the story of a little boy named Ethan.  I met his parents in our Sunday School class in January of 2009.  We've had several couples come and visit our class but for some reason in January 2009 this couple just struck me as the sweetest family.  I can remember telling Aaron after class that I really liked them a lot and really hoped they came back.  I even remembered their names, and I typically can never remember visitor's names unless they come several times.  This couple only came once.  I didn't know why this couple made such a lasting impression until a couple of months later.

We received word two months later that Ethan had been very sick.  Doctors thought it was just the flu, but his parents ended up taking him on to Vanderbilt and tests ended up showing he had brain cancer.  Some sweet lady that always referred to herself as Ethan's fairy godmother kept a running blog of Ethan's life, both in the hospital with cancer treatments and his life at home.  I tried to keep up with her blog on a regular basis and kept this little boy in my prayers.  Around last Monday she updated that he was back in the hospital and things were not looking good.  They sent Ethan home a couple of days later.  In the following days her updates were about the same...things were not looking good.  I received several e-mail updates yesterday with pretty much the same updates stressing to give the family their time together. 

As I took Blake to bed last night, I sat in the rocking chair and prayed for Blake just as I always do.  Then I began to pray so hard for little Ethan.  Once I put Blake in the bed I checked my e-mail again.  Yes, there was another e-mail, and it has the news that I had been dreading.  Ethan had gone to live with his Maker around 5:30 last night.  This just broke my heart and the tears flooded my face.  Even though I really didn't even know this family except for the 1 class that I had with them, I had been so touched by his story and pain that he had experienced as well as the emotional pain his parents were experiencing.  I just can't imagine the pain his parents as well as the rest of the family are experiencing.  Ethan's story is the reason that I've been trying so hard not to sweat the small stuff and enjoy every single moment with my children, even the very trying times.

I am so bless to have the very best boys.  They are happy and so healthy.  I pray every day for their health and happiness.  Please join with me in praying for Ethan's parents, sister and the rest of the family through this very difficult time and in the coming days. 

Busy Saturday

Well, both boys decided that 6:30 was a great time to wake-up this morning.  Actually, Connor told me that Blake woke him up which I am really surprised at.  But, nonetheless three of us were up at 6:30 and had eaten breakfast by 7:15ish.  Then I decided it was time to get my oven cleaned.  It has needed it for some time, but I kept putting it off because of the nasty smell it puts out while it's doing it thing for 2 or 3 hours.  But, I figured since it was nice outside I could just open the windows downstairs and I'd be fine.  I think my peach cobbler exploding Thursday night was what made me decide I HAD to clean it this time.  That was such a mess.  So, about 7:30 I started that, what I anticipated, smelly job.  It wasn't as bad this time around.  The last time I did it it was in the dead of winter, the house stunk so bad I had to stop the cleaning process and the boys and I went to Aaron's office for a while as the smell went away.  It was so cold outside I couldn't open all the windows.  That was not a bright idea.  So, I've learned cleaning the oven needs to be done when it is nice outside.

Then I got myself ready and Connor ready, put Blake down for what I thought would be an hour long nap and Connor and I went to "register" for birthday presents at the local toy store (I found out later that Blake ended up not sleeping while I was gone).  That was lots of fun.  He picked out much better stuff this time.  Then back home for a quick lunch and then off to soccer for pictures and a game.  Boy was it hot out there.  Blake's hair was so wet by the time we left.  Both boys had to have baths again.  Then a short nap before we were off for birthday party #1 for the weekend.  While the boys were napping I did some touch-up painting.  The walls were in desperate need of a good touch-up job.  I got about 1/2 of what I wanted done downstairs.  I'll try to finish up downstairs and maybe the upstairs bonus room tomorrow.

The birthday party was at a local gymnastics studio.  The kids had the best time, although they wouldn't let Blake out there.  They said he had to be 3 years old.  Thankfully he was fairly content at staying behind the wall and watching Connor.  I wish I could have done the stuff they were doing.  We just might do Connor's party there next year.  I didn't realize they did parties there.  But, it is a great location.  I bet you can't guess what we did when we got home?!?!  Yes, Connor rode and rode and rode his bike.  While the boys were outside, I came in and cleaned up the stuff in the oven.  Tomorrow is church and then yet another birthday party which happens to be at the church.

Near Perfect Day!

Okay, so the meaning behind my title is that if we could have the weather 365 days a year that we had today, it would be the most perfect climate EVER!!  I couldn't have asked for anything better. 

So, our morning started off with a trip to the Y.  I'm trying my hardest not to be a slacker at working out, although that is something that I sure could slack on.  I wish I loved it more than I do.  I had to watch my time there really closely since the kids can only be there for a total of 2 hours a day, and I like to take Blake up there during Connor's swimming lessons.  So, typically my workouts on Mondays and Wednesdays are shorter than they should be.  But, hey, I got 30 minutes of cardio and 15 minutes or so of strength training.  Better than nothing.  I've been really watching how fast I go on the elliptical and am trying some interval training on it, so I've be drenched in sweat (I know, maybe a little more info than you'd like to have) once I get done and can't wait to get home to shower. 

Once we got home and I was nice and squeaky clean again, we went outside for the boys to play.  Of course, Connor rode and rode and rode his bike.  Then Blake disappeared to the back yard, so I was able to convince Connor to play back there then.  They played in the sandbox and then on their swing set.  We came back in to get cleaned up and headed to Chick-fil-a for lunch with Jill and Hayden.  The boys played there too.  By the time we got home, Blake was exhausted.  I typically like to give them both baths when we get home from playing in public playmazes and such, but Blake was begging for his bed.  So, I sent both of them to bed. 

Connor had swimming lessons at 4:00.  I am just amazed as how well he is doing.  He is finally doing great at swimming on top of the water.  It was like pulling teeth to get him to stay on top because he can just fly through the water, under the water.  But, he's getting his arm motions going and today was even able to keep his face in the water and turn his head to the side for air every 4th time.  After a quick shower at the Y, we headed to church for choir, supper and then Missions Friends.

Now, we're back home, I'm blogging and Aaron, Connor and Blake are outside, again, getting one last bike ride in for the night.  I think we may go shopping for Connor's birthday decorations and such tomorrow.  I might even take him to the toy store to "register" for stuff he wants for his birthday.  I wanted to do that sometime when Blake wasn't with us, but I'm running out of time since his party is in a little over a week.

What a wonderful heart-smiling day.  Did your heart smile today?

Sittin' at the Big Table

We have been having a little trouble keeping Blake in his highchair at meal time.  He was constantly wanting to get up while we were eating and sit with either Aaron or myself.  So, I decided maybe he just wanted to sit at the big table with the rest of us.  We have a little booster seat that I thought we'd try out in one of the chairs.  He LOVES sitting in that chair.  He wants to sit there for snacks and just to sit.  He does so well with it.  Here is a picture of him sitting in his new seat.  Funny story.  I made Chicken Florentine a few weeks ago.  Connor loved the chicken out of it but not the spinach.  Blake loved the spinach but not the chicken.  So, we did a little trade off between the two of them.  We had a lot left over, so I froze it and we ate it again last night.  This is Blake eating Chicken Florentine.   This time he ate every part of it.  We found out from his 18 month check-up that his iron level is on the low end of normal, so hopefully eating this spinach will help!  :)

Not only does he love to sit in his chair, he loves to climb upon the big chairs.  Within a 5 minute time period of me taking these pictures he climbed up on top of 3 of the chairs.  He'll push them out, climb up, climb down, and then THANKFULLY push the chair back up.

First chair

Climbing up the second chair.

Pulling out the third chair.

Pushing third chair back up.

Just more fun times that make my heart smile.  I am so thankful for my two boys that they are happy and healthy.  On the days when I'm frustrated, tired and about to pull my hair out, I'm trying to just be thankful.  Be thankful that my children are happy.  Be thankful my children are very healthy.  I am trying so hard not to sweat the small stuff.  This is such a challenge for me.  But, it is something I am working so hard on and praying hard about.  My challenge for you today...find something to make your heart smile and something for which to be thankful.